Nonrefillable bottle stopper



Sept. 19, 1939.

I 1 I I! I I I H. DAVIS $173,098

NONREFILLABLE BOTTLE STOPPER Filed 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 25, 1958 Inventor ay am Attorneys P 1939- v A. H. DAVIS 2,173,098

NONREFILLABLE BOTTLE S TOPPER Filed Oct. 25, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet n uenior ififiawsr cmsm.

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I Attorneys Patented Sept. 19, 1939 UNITED STATES NONREFILLABLE. BOTTLE STOPPER Alfred H. Davis, deceased, late of St. Petersburg, Fla., by Florence H. Davis, administratrix, St.

Petersburg, Fla.

Application October 25, 1938, Serial No. 236,926

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in non-refillable bottle stoppers and has for one of its important objects to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character embodying a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts whereby a free flow of the liquid from a bottle will be assured, while the refilling of said bottle will be positively prevented.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a stopper of the aforementioned character which may be inserted in a conventional bottle with little or no alteration to said bottle being necessary.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a non-refillable bottle stopper which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eflicient and reliable in use, compact and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in vertical section through an upper portion of a bottle, showing the invention installed therein.

Figure 2 is a View substantially similar to Figure 1 but showing the bottle tipped for pouring.

Figure 3 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail View in plan of the seat.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the cork filler.

Figure 6 is a detail view in side elevation of the valve cage.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the invention removed from the bottle.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a sleeve I of any suitable material which is adapted to be mounted in the neck 2 of a bottle 3. The sleeve I includes a reduced upper portion 4 providing a neck or shoulder 5, said portion 4 terminating, at its upper end, in an external flange 6. A cork filler I is provided between the reduced portion 4 and the bottle neck 2.

At its lower end, the sleeve I is provided with outturned anchoring lips 8 which are adapted to snap into grooves I l which are provided therefore in the lower portion of the bottle neck 2. Adjacent the lips 8 the sleeve I is formed to receive and retain a valve seat 9, as illustrated to advantage in Figure 1 of the drawings.

Mounted in the sleeve I is a cage which is designated generally by the reference numeral Ill. The cage I is substantially bulbous and said cage comprises a plurality of spaced, arcuate wires II the upper ends of which are fixed to a disk I2 of suitable material. The disk I2 projects beyond the upper ends of the wires II and the projecting marginal portion thereof has formed therein a plurality of substantially V- shaped notches or recesses I3. Encircling the intermediate and lower end portions of the wires I I are bands I 4' to which said wires are fixed.

The cage III rests on the seat 9 and it will be observed that said cage is confined in the sleeve I between said seat 9 and the neck or shoulder portion 5. Mounted in the cage II] are buoyant and non-buoyant balls I and I6, respectively, the former being operatively engageable with the seat 9, as also shown to advantage in Figure 1 of the drawings.

It is thought that the operation of the invention will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. With the bottle in an upright or substantially upright position the ball valve I5 rests by gravity on the seat 9 for positively closing the bottle and preventing the entrance therein of any liquid. The nonbuoyant ball I6 is adapted to rest on the buoyant ball I5 and assist in maintaining the same in engagement with the seat 9. However, when the bottle is tilted substantially as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings the balls I5 and I6 roll by gravity to the other end portion of the cage I0 and the liquid is now free to flow from the bottle, said liquid passing through the notches or recesses I3. The construction and arrangement is such that a free flow of the liquid as assured. A conventional closure may be inserted in the reduced portion 4 of the sleeve I.

It is believed that the many advantages of the non-refillable bottle stopper constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A stopper of the class described comprising a sleeve adapted to be mounted in the neck of the bottle, a seat mounted in said sleeve, a cage mounted in the sleeve and resting on the seat, said cage being substantially bulbous and. comprising a plurality of spaced, curved wires, a disk fixed on the upper ends of said wires and extending therebeyond, said disk being engaged with the sleeve and. having passages in its projecting marginal portion, a buoyant ball valve 

